Associations of Discrimination, Suicide Ideation Severity and Attempts, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth.

We examined the unique associations among discrimination, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms in a sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth as well as interpersonal mediators of these associations. Participants included 94 SGM youth (Mage = 18; SD = 2.88) recruited from SGM-specific drop-in centers. We used mediation analyses to test the mediating effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness on the associations between discrimination and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms, accounting for childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables (age, gender identity, race, and sexual orientation). Within our nonclinical community sample of SGM youth, 49% reported a lifetime suicide attempt, 84% reported current suicide ideation, and 82% reported current depressive symptoms. Experiencing discrimination was associated with greater likelihood of suicide attempts and depressive symptoms, and greater perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, over and above the effects of childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables. Discrimination was indirectly associated with greater depressive symptoms through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and with greater severity of suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness. Findings suggest clinicians should assess for discrimination and include a focus on perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as targets of intervention for suicide and depression.

School responsiveness to adoption among lesbian mothers.

A sample of adoptive parents, including an oversampling of lesbian mothers (n = 125), was surveyed regarding their family's school experiences related to adoption, satisfaction with how the school handled adoption-related issues, and their child's experiences with teasing at school. Linear and logistic regression analyses showed that lesbian mothers were more likely than heterosexual parents and gay fathers to disclose their child's adoption status in the school record and to ensure that the school was aware of the child's adoption. Lesbian mothers were also more likely than heterosexual parents and gay fathers to report talking to teachers about adoption issues. There were no differences as a function of parent sexual orientation regarding rates of children being teased about adoption status. However, rates of teasing regarding child race/ethnicity were higher for children of lesbian mothers and gay fathers than for children of heterosexual parents. The implications of the findings for future research and the provision of services for lesbian mothers are considered.

Alcohol and marijuana use as daily predictors of suicide ideation and attempts among adolescents prior to psychiatric hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: Little research has been conducted on alcohol use, marijuana use, and suicide ideation and attempts on a daily level, and specifically among adolescents prior to inpatient hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to examine the within (over time) and between (between adolescents) effects of alcohol use and marijuana use on suicide ideation and attempts. METHODS: Participants included 50 adolescents (80% female; Mage = 15.8). All participants reported drinking alcohol in the prior three months and were receiving treatment in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Random and mixed-effect models were used to test study hypotheses. RESULTS: Results from the random effect model indicated that alcohol use, marijuana use, hospitalization and sexual orientation were significant predictors of suicide attempts. Results from the mixed-effect model indicated that marijuana use, hospitalization, and sexual orientation were significant predictors of suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings extend current knowledge about the longitudinal and day-to-day relationship between alcohol and marijuana use and suicide ideation and attempts. Results underscore the importance of addressing alcohol and marijuana use in interventions with suicidal adolescents, recognizing that sexual minority youth may be at elevated risk for suicide ideation.

Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents' Attitudes Towards Racial Socialization Practices.

We tested the validity and measurement invariance of the Transracial Adoptive Parenting scale (TAPS) across sexual orientation with a nationwide sample of adoptive parents. Our study sample consisted of 737 heterosexual, 102 lesbian, and 64 gay adoptive parents from the Modern Adoptive Families (MAF) study, a cross-sectional survey. We conducted reliability analyses, as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for the 29-item TAPs. We then tested for measurement invariance based on sexual orientation. Findings show the TAPS is a reliable scale with a two-factor model measuring racial socialization and managing bias related to racial socialization practices. However, there was measurement invariance based on parent sexual orientation. Our study informs practitioners that the TAPS measure is a useful tool for assessment and intervention that can be used with sexual minority transracial adoptive parents. However, cautions against comparing TAPs scores across parental sexual orientation.